X:1
T:Logaisean, Na
M:C|
L:1/8
N:”A Very Old Reel”
B:Alexander Mackay – A Collection of Reels, Strathspeys and Slow Tunes…
B:Chiefly composed by Alexander Mackay, Musician Islay (c. 1822, p. 9)
B: https://digital.nls.uk/special-collections-of-printed-music/archive/104487947
N:Dedicated to the Right Hon. Lady Elinor Campbell of Islay and Shawfield.
N:Mackay was born c. 1775 and was a fiddler-composer from Islay. Many of his
N:tune titles are reflect Islay settings.
N:Printed in Glasgow by J. MacFadyen, 30 Wilson St.
Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion
K:Dmin
A|G/G/G c2 AFFA|BGGA cAFA|G/G/G c2 AFFA|BAGA FDD:|
e|fedf cdcA|fede fgag|(fe)df cdcA|BAGA FDDe|
fedf cdcA|fede fgag|fadf cfAc|(BA)GA FDD||
NA LOGAISEAN (The Old Shoes). Scottish, Reel (cut time). D Minor. Standard tuning (fiddle). AAB. Islay fiddler-composer Alexander Mackay (born c. 1773) included this tune in his c. 1822 volume, calling it "a very old reel." Logaisean are mentioned in this superstition printed in The Highland Monthly:
In Argyleshire the following custom was observed in some places. During the first night of a child's life,watch was kept; doors, windows, and everything were closely shut, and old shoes--logaisean--were burnedin the fire[1].
This procedure would be done as a measure to prevent the dread fairies from stealing the newborn or otherwise doing it harm.
Additional notes
Printed sources : - Alexander Mackay (A Collection of Reels, Strathspeys and Slow Tunes), c. 1822; p. 9.
